Railroad-crossing signal



Jan. 16, 1923. 1,442,476

A. JEREP. RA l LROAD CROSSING SIGNAL, FILED APR. 6. I922 Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER JEREP, OF MONONGAH, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD-CROSSING SIGNAL.

Application filed April 6,

To a]? zcizo-m 2'2 may concern Be it known that I. ALEXANDER JEREP. a citizen of Hungary. residing at Monongah. in the county of Marion and State of Vest \irginia. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossing Signals. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a railroad crossing signal adapted to be positioned at the point where the railroad crosses a street. road. or.public highway generally to give warning when a train is approaching the crossing.

The invention has for an object to provide. a novel and improved signal device of this kind. and further to provide a device which gives a different signal according as the train is close to. or at some distance from. the crossing.

For further comprehension of the invention. and of the objects and advantages thereof. reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings. and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more. particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view showing my improved signal as in use.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the signal post. with the parts in normal position. the signal element being shown in elevation. i

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section with the parts in operative position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the operating element.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the electrical circuits.

As here shown my improved signal device comprises a hollow post 10 suitably positioned at the railroad crossing. The upper end of this post is closed by a cap 11 in which is swiveled a vertical rock shaft 12 having a signal head 13 fixed on its upper end. this signal head being here in the form of a short cylindrical casing closed at opposite ends by glass lenses 1+1 and 15. respectively and having suitably mounted therein an electric lamp 16. Upon the lens 14 are placed the letters 0. K. or other indication thatthe track can be crossed in safety. while the lens 15 carries the word Danger.

The inner end of shaft 12 projects into the hollow plunger 18 of a solenoid 19, fixed 1922. Serial N0. 549,962.

in the post 10, and is formed with a spiral groove 20 into which projects a pin 91 fixed in the plunger. the parts being arranged so that movement of the plunger turns'the shaft through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees. The plunger 18 may be held against rotation by means of a lug 2Q thereon engaging in a grooved guide '23 on the side of the box. engagement of the lug with the end walls of the guiding groove limiting movement of the plunger in opposite directions. To retract the plunger a coiled tension spring 25 is connected to the upper end thereof.

Ypon the post 10 I preferably mount a gong 30 adapted to be struck by either of the light and heavy clappers 31 and 32 respectively which are operated in the usual manner by energizing electric coils 33 and 31 in the post.

At ll) I have indicated the track rails beside one of which. at different distances along the track I position a pair of devices through which the signal head 13 is rotated and the light clapper 32 operated when the train is at a considerable distance from the crossing. and the heavy clapper 31 caused to operate when the train is close to the crossing.

Each of these devices comprises a lever 11? fulcrumed at one end as at 13 in a box beside the rail and having an upwardly bowed intermediate portion 12' which projects up beside the rail tread through a suitable slot in the box top. The free end of this lever has a slot and pin connection 15 with a bell crank lever 16 fulcrumed as at 47 in the box -14 and carrying a spring contact 48 adapted to engage a fixed contact l9 in the box, A tension spring 50 is connected to the lever 46 to return the parts to normal position. To retard the return movement I connect to the lever 4:6 the plunger 51 of a dash pot 52 of ordinary construction pivoted as at 53 in the box 11. A drain pipe 54 may be connected to the bottom of the box ll to drain off water that may enter through the slot in the top of the box. The electric wires may be carried through a pipe 55, or other suitable conduit. to the post 10.

Referring now to the electric circuits: from a battery 60 a wire 61 leads to one terminal of the solenoid and from the other terminal a wire 62 leads to lamp 16. From lamp 16 a wire 63 leads to one terminal of the coil 33 associated with the light clapper 31. From the other terminal of coil 33 a wire 64 leads to the spring contact 48 of the train operated device which is farthest from the crossing and from the adjacent fixed contact 49 a wire 65 leads back to battery. From wire 63, above mentioned, a branch 66 leads to one terminal of the coil 34 associated with the heavy clapper 32. From the other terminal of this coil a wire 67 leads to the spring contact 48 of the other train operated device, and from the adjacent fixed contact 49 a wire 68 leads to the return wire 65 before mentioned.

In the operation of the device. the approaching train first depresses the lever 42 of the device furthest from the crossing, causing the spring contact 48 to engage with the fixed contact 49 and closing the circuit through the solenoid 19, lamp 16 and coil 33. The plunger 18 being drawn back. the shaft 12 is rotated one-half turn, causing the danger signal to face along the road, simultaneously lighting the lamp 16 and causing the light clapper 31 to strike the gong 30. When the other lever 42 is deressed. as the train comes nearer the crossing. the heavy clapper 32 is caused to vibrate and give warning of immediate passage of the train. By providing the dash pot 52 the lever 42 is prevented from vibrating as the successive wheels pass thereon, and the circuit remains continuouslly closed while the train is passing over said lever, the spring contact 48 accommodating itself to any slight movement of the lever 46 without disengaging from the contact 48. The spring 50 is preferably made of such strength as to prevent the lever 42 being depressed by anyone stepping thereon.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to rename be understood that various changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from the'spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A railway crossing signal comprising a post, a signal head rotatably mounted on said post and having different signal legends on different faces thereof, a shaft on which said signal head is mounted, a solenoid, a device adapted for operation by a train for closing an electric circuit through said solenoid, and an operative connection between the solenoid and shaft whereby the former rotates the latter. said 0 rative connection including a sleeve like p unger surrounding the shaft and a pin in said plunger engaging in a spiral groove in said shaft.

2. A railway crossing signal comprising a post, a signal head rotatably mounted on said post and having different signal legends on different faces thereof, a shaft on which said signal head is mountedga solenoid, a device adapted for operation by a train for closing an electric circuit through said solenoid, and an operative connection between the solenoid and shaft whereby the former rotates the latter, said 0 erative connection including a sleeve like p unger surrounding the shaft and a pin in said plunger engaging in a spiral groove in said shaft, a lug on said plunger. and a uiding element in the post engaged by said lug.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature.

ALEXANDER J EREP. 

